Five memorable Asian matches

Sat, 28 Jan, 2023

Five memorable Asian matches

Kuala Lumpur: Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC are set to represent Asia in the 19th edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, a competition that has long provided some thrilling encounters for Asian teams over the years.

Ahead of the competition kicking-off in Morocco at the start of February, the-AFC.com takes a stroll down memory lane by exploring some of the finest matches involving Asian teams in Club World Cup history.

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The Club World Cup in Stats

Fri, 27 Jan, 2023

The Club World Cup in Stats

Tangier: The FIFA Club World Cup has never failed to thrill fans with high octane action and spectacular matches.

With the Morocco 2022 kick-off fast approaching, we take a look at the global showpiece's stats over the past 18 editions. 

Ighalo: Al Hilal can win the Club World Cup

Wed, 25 Jan, 2023

Ighalo: Al Hilal can win the Club World Cup

Riyadh: Odion Ighalo crashed to the Saint Petersburg turf, desolate. A Lionel Messi wonder goal had helped extinguish his FIFA World Cup dream.

Ighalo hadn’t even departed Krestovsky Stadium by the time he was obsessing over Qatar 2022. The Nigeria striker knew he’d be 33 at the time. He was desperate to be there.
 
And he was. Yet not in a capacity Ighalo could have ever imagined. The Lagos native was part of Nigeria squad that agonisingly lost on away goals to arch-rivals Ghana in a playoff for a place at the 22nd World Cup. Ighalo nevertheless travelled to Qatar to passionately support a country he had never even stepped foot in two years ago.
 
After a fruitful spell at Al Shabab, Ighalo crossed Riyadh to join Al Hilal in January 2021 – just days before they debuted in the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021. It was the start of a love affair between the player and the Saudi Arabian superpower.
 
FIFA+ caught up with Ighalo to discuss his goalscoring exploits, Al Hilal’s ambitious quest to beat the likes of Flamengo and Real Madrid to the Morocco 2022 trophy, the passion of his club’s fans, his admiration for Salem Al Dawsari, Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe, and his Qatar 2022 experience.

Five Asian players who impressed at the FIFA Club World Cup

Wed, 25 Jan, 2023

Five Asian players who impressed at the FIFA Club World Cup

Dubai: The FIFA Club World Cup offers clubs from the across the world an opportunity to test their skills against the finest opponents from every continent, and over the years many an Asian player has left their mark in the competition.

With the next edition, where the continent will be represented by Al Hilal SFC in Morocco, fast approaching, the-AFC.com recalls five players who impressed in the competition.

Oh grateful to Postecoglou for dream move

Fri, 27 Jan, 2023

Oh grateful to Postecoglou for dream move

Glasgow: Korea Republic striker Oh Hyeon-gyu vowed to repay Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou for his persistence after finally completing his dream move to Europe.

The 21-year-old told reporters on Thursday that he first heard about the Scottish champions' interest back in September.
 
But the deal was only finalised earlier this week when Celtic paid Suwon Samsung Bluewings a reported £2.5 million.

Korea Republic's Bell aiming for deep run at global showpiece

Fri, 27 Jan, 2023

Korea Republic's Bell aiming for deep run at global showpiece

Seoul: Head coach Colin Bell will leave no stone unturned in his bid to ensure Korea Republic enjoy an extended run in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023.

The East Asian side will be appearing in their third consecutive FIFA Women's World Cup and fourth overall with their Round of 16 appearance in the 2015 edition their best return to date and Bell is determined to change that.